News Release

January 15, 2007

Increasing the Number of Pharmacists in Northern Ontario: A New Partnership between Laurentian University and University of Waterloo

Sudbury (Ontario) - Laurentian University and University of Waterloo celebrated their new partnership in a School of Pharmacy. The expectation of this partnership is to increase the number of pharmacists in northern Ontario and other underserved regions of the province.

Through this partnership, Laurentian University and University of Waterloo will mutually assist each other in recruiting Pharmacy students from underserved communities and in finding cooperative education placements for them, in pharmacies, hospitals and clinics in northern Ontario and other regions of the province. Moreover, the two universities will seek further collaboration in areas such as on-line learning and distance education, and research.

"Laurentian University, notably through its Faculty of Medicine, has extensive health-related networks and substantial expertise in bringing health professionals to underserved areas," said Susan Silverton, Vice-president, Academic (Anglophone Affairs). "Our collaboration with the University of Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy allows Laurentian to continue to position itself as a major influential agent for health-related issues in northern Ontario."

The first class of students will be starting in January 2008. The school will offer an innovative program built on a cooperative education model. It is the first School of Pharmacy to open in Canada in 20 years.

Applications are now being accepted on-line for the inaugural class. The application website can be accessed at: www.pharmacy.uwaterloo.ca.  This website also provides a variety of details about the developments at the School.

Pharmacies, hospitals and clinics wishing to participate in the cooperative educational placements for School of Pharmacy students are encouraged to email at director@pharmacy.uwaterloo.ca or call at 519-888-4567, ext. 37300.

For more information on this partnership, please contact Dr. Susan Silverton, Vice-president, Academic (Anglophone Affairs), Laurentian University, at (705) 675-1151, ext. 3402 or ssilverton@laurentian.ca.

Reference:
Guylaine Tousignant
Public Affairs
Laurentian University
Sudbury, Ontario
(705) 675-1151, ext. 3406
gj_tousignant@laurentian.ca